Land Use
Betty Conner, brconner@msn.com

The latest proposal for environmental bond issue has come from the House Republicans. They propose a spring ballot referendum for a bond issue of $800 million to be spent over the next seven years with debt service covered by part of the current $4.25 per ton waste tipping fee. The tipping fee would ALSO provide $1.25 per ton for Hazardous Sites Cleanup, with estimated annual revenue of $25.6 million for 28 years, and $0.50 per ton for Farmland Preservation, with estimated annual revenue of $10.2 million for 28 years. There would be no increase in current fees. The funds from the bond would be divided as follows: DCNR 31.3% or $36 million annually for 7 years, DEP 43.7% or $50 million annually for 7 years, and PENNVEST 25%. An Environmental Endowment Account would be set up and is predicted to contain $179 million by the year 2033. A Committee vote is expected early in February.

For details of the House Republican plan visit : www.GreenPAplan.com

The Administration has not yet reintroduced its Growing Greener 2 proposal in this session, so we don't know what changes may be proposed there.

For details of the Administration (Fall) proposal visit: www.growinggreener2.com

A House Democratic bill was filed on Feb 4 (HB260); we have no details on it as yet.
Comparisons need to be made between proposals. The House Republican plan cuts the Farmland Preservation Program by about $30 million annually, but proposes preserving Open Space with the bond funds at the rate of $15 million annually over the next 7 years, an increase of $8 million.

We expect there will be further negotiations on details, as the House Republican plan does not include many of the important programs included in the Administration proposal. We'll let you know if a compromise is reached that we can support on the primary ballot.